#europe travel gear

[savvytravelers]

Europe Trip Packing Essentials

Find all the Europe trip packing essentials you need with Savvy Travelers, simplifying your packing process and ensuring you're ready for any adventure!

[kas-e]

Balkan Lake Views

[mortenalbekphotography]

Seeing in Light and Shadow: Black & White in Rome. Rome is almost made for black and white photography. #LeicaNordics #streetphotography #photography www.mortenalbek.com

[tempest-melody]

Amsterdam Street Art

We saw some great street art while in Amsterdam. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good art museum but there is something about finding art out in the wild, where you least expect it that I deeply enjoy. What do you think of street art? Let me know in the comments. Street Art Other Odd Things I really want to know what is up with the creepy naked doll in the window. That was defiantly one of the…

[justposting1]

The changing reality of moving to Europe.

Hey friends! 💕In this article, I’m sharing the shocking reality of moving to Europe, from lights going off in public bathrooms to other shocking surprises. The European lifestyle can lead to a slower, more fulfilling life. If you’re thinking of moving to Europe or just curious about it, this article is about the joys and the shocking surprises of living here. Welcome to my life in Europe, where…

[lionheartlr]

Essential Gear for Traveling with Pets: Your Guide to Safe and Comfortable Adventures

Traveling with pets can be an incredibly rewarding experience, allowing you to create unforgettable memories together. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a cross-country road trip, ensuring your furry friend’s safety, comfort, and well-being should be a top priority. In this article, we’ll explore essential gear for pet travel, from safety harnesses to portable water bowls, to help make…

[jamesv-t]

The Warning in Kerrang magazine. Transcription of the interview below the cut

The Warning blew up last year with their fourth album, Keep Me Fed. Since then, they've toured relentlessly. Gearing up to take on Latin America and Europe, it's clear the Villarreal Vélez sisters are on the brink of international superstardom...

WORDS: ALIYA CHAUDHRY PHOTOS: GUSTAVO KURI, ZEUS LOPEZ

The day after The Warning played the MTV Europe Music Awards, held in Manchester in November, the Villarreal Vélez sisters got on a plane to Miami to perform at the Latin GRAMMYs.

"That week, the way that we lived It it was just so crazy," drummer Pau laughs today. "Very chaotic," adds bassist Ale.

"It was a lot" lead vocalist and guitarist Dany agrees.

At the EMAs, they were up for Best Push, an award that highlights breakthrough artists. The band played Automatic Sun, taken from fourth album Keep Me Fed, washed in red light and punctuated by bursts of flames.

Speaking to Kerrang! from their homebase in Monterrey, Mexico, several months on from the back-to-back performances, the three sisters talk excitedly, finishing each other's sentences, or with overlapping answers.

"It was just so hectic and full of adrenaline," Pau enthuses. don't think we'll ever forget that whole week.

At the Latin GRAMMYs, The Warning performed Qué Más Quieres - up for Best Rock Song - in metallic outfits as strobe lights pierced the air. The band are native Spanish speakers but mostly write and sing in English, making a point to include one Spanish track on each album, which, on Keep Me Fed, was the nominated track.

"We toured a lot in North America and in Europe, even Asia," Pau recounts of the past year's whirlwind. "But we hadn't been to South America in a while not even in Mexico. So to have been recognised in the Latin American community by our peers, especially our rock'n'roll peers, and to be representing Mexican rock, we feel very honoured."

To call it all a busy time would be an understatement. After releasing Keep Me Fed last summer, The Warning's fame has sky-rocketed, landing them on international stages including awards shows, TV screens and even New York's iconic Times Square. It's all the more impressive when you take into consideration the fact that Dany, Pau and Ale are only 25, 23 and 20 years of age, respectively. And, as Pau reveals, they've been so all over the place that they even know some of their on-the-road locales.

"Touring North America, we know what it is, we've done it for a while," Pau says. "So we know our stops, we know our Walmarts, we know our Targets. We know where to go."

"The only thing was the cold in Canada..." Ale adds.

The first leg of that tour was a run of the United States, including festivals and headline shows, followed by support slots with Halestorm and Evanescence in Canada - the former being a band The Warning had toured with in the past. "It was just like reuniting with old friends," Pau smiles.

By the time Kerrang! catches up with the trio, they're nearing the end of a break from travelling - a much needed pause before the whole machine kicks back off again.

"We've been here in Monterrey for a while, and again, we're about to leave, but I feel that leaving and touring just makes me really appreciate my home, my city," smiles Pau.

At home, their stardom is undeniable and frankly unavoidable. It's Warning-mania. 

"Every time we leave our house, we get asked for a picture or an autograph," Pau says. "It's not jarring, because I know that it's there. I'm aware that when I go out that will happen, but sometimes I am caught off-guard."

One time, the drummer was approached by a fan at a restaurant, right when she was in the middle of paying the bill. 

"There's the other part, where you assume people are coming to you because they recognise you and they want to tell you something." Dany starts.

"But then they're like, Hey, is your car the grey one that's parked behind? and I'm like, "Oh! I got ahead of myself." Pau laughs. 

The band's 2024 tours were just the first phase of the Keep Me Fed cycle - this year, they're continuing to play heavily across continents. 

"We're super excited about getting this album to the places that haven't heard it completely." Dany says 

On the day we catch-up, they're just a week away from some genuinely mega home-country shows, including three nights at Mexico City's 10,000-cap Auditorio Nacional. This tour, along with a special local date at the 8,000-seat Auditorio Citibanamex, is completely sold out. Not that it's sunk in yet.

"We're going to be living these shows that we've been planning for a whole year." Pau says. "It's this weird anticipation and anxiety - we've been living with the concept for such a long time, rehearsing for them, planning them, working with so many people to make them happen, and now they're going to happen!" 

After Mexico, The Warning are touring South America in March, before heading to the UK and Europe in April, including a stop at London's 02 Academy Brixton.

"We're from the completely other side of the world." Pau explains. "so to have more than a thousand people buying tickets to see us at each show in countries that we've visited only once or twice, it's really crazy to us. It speaks to the power of music and the connection that music has with people, no matter the language, no matter where you're from"

The Warning have had plenty of experience playing venues big and small. These days, they hop from opening for the likes of Guns N' Roses and Muse, to their own gigs. adopting as needed, but always trying to make it as memorable-and massive as possible.

"Production-wise, it's like, 'Will that fourth screen fit on the stage? Probably not... So you just remove that type of thing" Pau explains.

"But for us, it's the same setlist, same energy. It doesn't matter if we're playing for 300 people or 3,000- it's the same concept for us. It's the same experience."

There's another layer to playing away from home, too. They essentially become ambassadors.

"When we have an appearance at a festival or someplace that rarely has Mexican guests, we do feel that we're representing our country as a whole," Pau nods.

"Even though, of course, we have just a tiny little bit of what Mexican music has to offer," adds Dany. 

For many of The Warning's fans, the band could well be their introduction to Mexican rock music.

"We try to paint our country in the nicest light possible, because we come from such a beautiful country with such beautiful culture and history and music," Pau says. "Mexican rock is a very specific genre that I hope people from other places of the world start discovering, because it's such a rich genre with such rich history. For us to be able to participate in even a little tiny bit of it is great. Hopefully we get to open that door in people's minds, for them to be curious about what else Latin America has to offer."

In between all the touring and dropping an album, The Warning have also been jamming with other bands. At Aftershock Festival last year, Pau joined Dead Poet Society on their song Hurt. Her and Dany then did the same when they came to Mexico City.

Another Aftershock connection, The Warning also collaborated with Japanese outfit BAND-MAID, who they'd met at the festival in 2022 and toured with last year. In December 2023, the two bands began working on a song together over Zoom, with The Warning flying to Japan to finish it last May (they then released the single, entitled SHOW THEM, in August).

In the accompanying music video, each member faces off with their instrumental counterpart, as Dany and BAND-MAID singer Saiki Atsumi trade vocals that are entirely in English,

"It was very interesting to see how both of us were using a language that was not our native one," Pau explains, "They speak Japanese, we speak Spanish, So it was about finding a common ground in a different language and making it work musically, and communicating musically."

It did lead to challenges when it came to nailing the lyrics, though. 

"We would choose a word, and they were like, 'That doesn't mean the same thing in Japanese English.' We're like, 'What? What do you mean?' It's that type of thing that translates so differently with other people's music."

A song about not only refusing to make yourself small, but trying to be as big as you can be, SHOW THEM proved to be an empowering listen, bolstered by its electrifying swagger. "Ultimately, music literally became the language," Dany says. 

This collaboration, and The Warning's success overall, shows that fans are truly global in their tastes, looking outside of their home countries and languages. 

"I feel that now, because of social media and the way that things are connected, we stop looking at music as this foreign export or import," Pau offers. "It's just this way to communicate, and music from different places in the world is just so different because the language is different, and the phonetics are different."

That mentality is especially important for a bilingual band. 

"We can make music in English and we also make it in Spanish," Pau says. "For people to look at those two sides that we have, and for them to consume it in the same way, it's really cool for us."

It's a little early for The Warning to start thinking about their next album, but when asked, they do have some ideas in mind.

"I want to have more than one song in Spanish," Pau teases.

"Let's do that!" Ale agrees. 

After the year they've had, the three sisters are still able to stay grounded. "We keep a very big balance of knowing where we are, knowing where we were, and..." "...where we can be," Dany completes Pau's thought. 

Of course, having family around helps. Not just within the band, but their parents play integral roles as well - especially when it comes to touring. Pau describes their mother as "a professional mom", while their dad acts as a stage manager and audio engineer. And, of course, there's no-one who keeps your ego in check quite like a sibling.

"I feel that we keep each other humble," Pau says.

"We complement each other," Dany adds.

"When we rehearse, we know how to call each other out while also recognising the steps that we're taking," Pau continues. "We do that with everything within the band. I think we have a good balance."

And it's a balance that bodes very well indeed for the future. "I think we're going to be okay!"

The Warning play London's O2 Academy Brixton on April 17

[kwisatzworld]

‘I met Fabio when he was fifteen,’ Tom says. I’m back in Yamaha’s ‘microwave’ in the Jerez paddock. We’re sitting at Fabio’s designated table, a ‘#20’ sign propped next to us. Maubant is chatty and I get the feeling that an interview in English about his story might be a novelty for him. He recently turned thirty, so he’s six years older than the Yamaha man. ‘I was managing a beach near Nice that had jetskis, wakeboarding and other activities, and he was there every day. He was living in Spain at the time with his previous manager. It was the first year of him being part of the Estrella Galicia team. He was a kid and was like a little brother with a lot of energy.

‘Fabio’s dad was working in Nice. We became friends and, at the end of the year when the beach business closed, he asked me to go with Fabio to Japan and Malaysia. I started travelling with him and it was cool because we were friends spending time outside of Europe. In 2016, he was with Leopard [now Honda, then KTM] and we did the same, but then that year we started to work more professionally – I organized and sorted out the gear. He moved to Andorra when he was eighteen and only just had a driver’s licence, so I went with him at first so he could adapt for six months and then we made a contract and worked properly in 2017.’

A fighter jet blasts over us. It feels like the ceiling shakes a little. Quartararo’s first year in Moto2 was 2017. He didn’t blend with the Kalex and was thirteenth in the championship. All the hype and the excitement from his two consecutive seasons of CEV title success as a fourteen-year-old (what is now effectively FIM JuniorGP) had started to subside. Riding the Speed-Up chassis in 2018, he earned his first win and gathered two podiums, but was plucked for MotoGP by the old Yamaha Petronas team after four seasons in which he had not scaled higher than tenth in any championship. A sticky period. But the combination of the ‘friendly’ Yamaha M1 in 2019 and low expectation for a rookie campaign allowed the breakthrough.

‘Moto2 and Moto3 were difficult times. He knew he had the talent but could not exploit it,’ Maubant remembers. ‘We had two years of Moto2 and then MotoGP was a big step. It became more professional, more people around, and then another step was having the good results right away and the fame, big fame, because the French fans were looking for the next “one”, as Johann had problems at KTM. There was a lot of attention, and then he started to earn big money. More and more people came to him for different reasons, and I was here to manage that. I don’t know why but I am quite good at being able to quickly make an opinion about people … and Fabio was not trusting many – his family and me. He was friends with a lot of people but kept his distance.’

Quartararo had been managed by two people, the last being Eric Mahé, but then made a change of direction and asked Maubant to step into the breach. ‘Eric helped him a lot because he had experience in MotoGP with other riders and he was able to make the step, but in the end, they were two very different characters,’ Tom says. ‘The more Fabio grew, the more difficult it became. We talked about what to do. Fabio said he didn’t want someone who had a very different lifestyle to him and he asked me, “Do you feel ready to do it?” I thought, “Why not?” It was the eighth year together and I knew everybody here and have good relationships.’

‘He is one of the only people I trust 100 per cent, he is like a brother and it’s always good to have someone close that you can have fun in the tough times and then also when you are 100 per cent,’ Quartararo had told me.

Maubant oversaw the largest current contract in MotoGP at the beginning of 2024 but, contrary to Fabio’s occasionally tough words about the motorcycle and his perceived criticism of Yamaha over the past two years, the deal was relatively straightforward. ‘I see a lot of media stories saying, “Fabio is not happy with Yamaha,” but nobody knows what happens inside,’ he reveals. ‘We have never had a problem with the team. Never. The atmosphere here is amazing and that is another reason why he decided to stay; there is not a single person that he would change. Even in the low times, the atmosphere was good. Sometimes people get another impression, and that is because of Fabio’s words, and we tell him, “Maybe you shouldn’t say this…” But he is honest and when he makes a comment or a [social media] post he doesn’t always think. He just posts what he wants, but this is also good because he is not fake.’

Tom says the travelling to grands prix is both the bugbear and the benefit of liking and working with a worldclass rider. Tom has been in a relationship with Mathilde Poncharal for some time, Tech3 Team Principal Herve Poncharal’s daughter, who is a press officer for the squad, and that makes the constant movement easier. I can remember when I found the couple and Fabio in a Japanese restaurant on Monday afternoon after the final 2019 Grand Prix in Valencia (he had claimed fifth in the championship as a rookie and with seven podium appearances to announce his arrival), in the one-day reprieve before the Tuesday test. We were the only people in the place and Fabio was partially slumped in the booth, clearly hating a hangover.

‘We have the kind of life that is difficult to explain to people that are not involved in this world,’ Tom offers. ‘Fabio is really famous in France and has famous friends. One day, we would be eating dinner with Neymar and the next day, I was having food with a friend in Nice: the balance is difficult to get. The people who don’t know Fabio might think he’s from another planet, he wears funny clothes, but if you really know him then he’s the opposite of this.’

I ask Tom if he ever remembers seeing his friend under excessive stress. ‘Once. In the overseas races in 2022,’ he replies, firmly. ‘Mid-season, he was seventy-eight points ahead but then the bike started to have some issues. Also, Fabio and the team made some mistakes. Bagnaia was coming back with all the Ducati “games” and they were doing what they could to help him. In the end, if there were eight Yamahas then it would be the same. I don’t think I saw him under a lot of pressure… but I think he learned and understood a lot about this world at the time. In 2019, 2020 and 2021 he was enjoying himself, but 2022 showed him some of the dark side. It can be good but also super-shit when you see the mindset of the Ducatis helping each other and Fabio was alone, no teammate. Difficult.

I question Tom further on Fabio’s mentality. The talent is beyond doubt, but can he also lead a factory and develop a motorcycle? The response, unsurprisingly, is unequivocal. ‘Mentally, he is one of the best, with maybe Marc also. He has taken Yamaha on his shoulders and this gave him a lot of confidence. He knows what he can do. He wanted to stay, improve the bike and come back with this brand. It could be one of the best comebacks in history. He is one of the youngest and he has time, plus he has achieved his dream already with the title.’

Tom and Fabio are the team within the team and have endured all the way from the beginning of Quartararo’s grand prix story. That riders are in need of some sort of assistant is made clear by the fact that they all have one (they take care of the leathers, gear, passes, personal requests and other requirements, even down to being good company), but Maubant also believes he needs to keep his ward in touch with reality, to burst the MotoGP bubble and therefore help with overall focus.

‘In MotoGP, you need someone, and I think the young riders in the smaller classes are starting to understand this. Firstly, there is pressure and their dream is to come to grand prix and then make the next steps and follow the next dream. At one point, you need someone with their feet on the ground. Many times in the past, after a bad result, I’ve had to say something like, “Hey, look! We’re in Japan, eating sushi, you are doing what you love, getting paid for it! Yeah, you finished fifteenth. Do better next weekend!” I remember in Misano in 2021 before he won the title. We were in the truck and the office where he gets ready and does the warm-up. It is only him and I: he doesn’t like to have people around. We were bullshitting. And he was sitting on the sofa being pessimistic because he was starting far back on the grid. I had to say to him, “Would you rather be here now or like two years ago when we were in the shit? Enjoy it.” He thought about it, laughed and then said, “Yeah, it’s true…” You need people to say things like that because young riders are just like this [puts hands to his eyes to mime tunnel-vision]; they just want to win, be first, be famous, earn money. They must remember that they have a privilege because there are many other people who work so hard every day just to pay the bills or buy things for their children. In the end, one race is one race. There are many races…’

Some riders have had an assistant in employ and treat them as such – handing gloves or helmets across almost like to a manservant. ‘We laugh at this,’ Maubant says. ‘I said to Fabio, “You do this to me one day and I say ‘f**k you’ and I go home!” I am one of the only ones who can tell him the truth. If he does something badly, like a post or goes with strange people, then I can say, “What the f**k did you do?!” It’s important to have guidance, and we see more and more young guys with family here. There are two systems: the Valentino way with twenty people around and then our way. On the professional side, there are more people, like a lawyer and an accountant, doctors, but on the other, we are two, with Maider [Bathe, Yamaha PR] taking care of the Yamaha side, the media, the personal sponsors, and the general assistance. In the box, I might be like the co-driver in a rally; I get all the information for him to see, and it has been that way since Moto3. He doesn’t want to change it. Then I talk with the sponsors and the other crew.’

I wonder whether it helps that Tom doesn’t have a racing background (‘I knew absolutely nothing about it. I saw some races with my dad and knew the basics, like all kids, about Valentino. I was more into football’), and if that means the two can maintain a more rounded friendship. He nods. ‘I never go into technical things because, first of all, I know nothing! It is not my job. There are 20–30 people in the pitbox for that. Since Moto3, [my job] is not about the riding or the lap-time but what is happening or has happened in the session. I make notes on the sectors about the others. I’m sure other riders have similar systems. I’ll never say to Fabio, “Why didn’t you take that line?” when I know nothing about the lines!’

[bekolxeram]

Buck cannot believe it, even with all the unthinkable emergencies he has encountered throughout his career. A blazing airplane just landed on a freeway in one piece, not by pilots, but by Athena and a child.

What was supposed to be a certain death situation, has been turned around by the bravery and cooperation of everyone onboard and on the ground, even the actor.

Once Athena is safely evacuated from the crippled jet, Bobby runs to her with the desperation of a man stranded in a desert to an oasis, a sight Buck is all too familiar with. He doesn't know if he should be sad for Bobby and Athena for getting into danger every time they travel, or should he be happy that they are always there to help save people. Then Buck feels a tap on his shoulder.

"Thank you. For showing me what a firefighter is supposed to be." Brad, the Hotshots captain said.

"No, I should be the one thanking you." Buck shrugs. "You've really come through and helped us a lot. If you're considering a career change, you would make a fine firefighter."

Brad briefly ducks his head, then gives Buck a cryptic smirk, "And likewise, if you ever get tired of the bureaucracy, you can work on my show. You have that… leading man charm, acting could work for you." Brad winks.

"Really? Um… I love my job, but that could be fun?" Buck replies, imagining the life of a famous TV actor.

"Yeah, I can get you a guest star spot. You should come by the studio later, I can give you a tour." Brad leans his body against the 119 truck and stares right into Buck's eyes. Yet, all Buck can hear is the word "tour" and he can't stop thinking about Tommy.

"I have to go get my car back anyway, but that sounds great! You know, my…" Buck doesn't even have time to finish his sentence.

"Sure! You know what? You should come to the bootcamp I set up with Captain Nash too. Just us guys, heart to heart, men versus wild." "Uhh…. bootcamp?" Since when does Bobby organize firefighter bootcamp for Hollywood actors? Buck asks himself. He really should take the time to talk to Bobby more, now that he's adapting to the new arrangement at work.

"Oh, you don't like it? Forget about it. We can take my private jet to go anywhere you want. Bahamas? Hawaii? Europe?" Brad steps closer to Buck. "I just thought you would be a fun travel companion?" Brad puts his hand on Buck's shoulder and slowly rubbing it. Buck looks at Brad's hand and finally realizes the overly flirtatious atmosphere brewing between them.

"Ah… It would be fun and all but…" Buck dodges his head to the side and waves one of his hands, "I gotta tell you, I've already got a boyfriend, and it's getting serious so…" Buck rises his eyebrows and smiles to try his best at an apologetic expression.

"Oh, Oh… so it wasn't me you were smiling at then…" Brad stares at the ground, clearly looking embarrassed.

"I'm so sorry, you're a very attractive man, but I… My boyfriend is a pilot too, a helicopter pilot… and a firefighter. This all just makes me think of him." Buck cannot contain his smile.

"It's okay, I wish you two the best." The actor utilizes his skill to mask his disappointment. "My offer for the studio tour and private jet ride still stand though."

"Actually, you know what? There is something from your set I want to borrow…" Buck again is cut off mid sentence, but this time, by a familiar voice.

"Evan!" Buck whips his head around and sees a scene that reminds him of his sister's wedding.

Tommy, again in his turnout gear, runs towards Buck with open arms and concern on his face.

"Are you alright? Eddie told me you went to get Bobby and next thing I knew you were on the 110 parked in front of the plane!" Tommy's hands roam around Buck's body, not in their usual, sensual way, but trying to check for any injury like a doctor would.

"I'm fine. Look, all in one piece." Buck opens his arms and turn around, to showcase how perfectly healthy he is. "I'm sorry I made you worry." He understands too well what dating a first responder means. Part of him still expects people to leave him the first instant he makes them scared for his life.

"What are you talking about? All I want is for you to be okay… When I saw you weren't there with the 118, I just knew you were in danger. I was so close to stealing my heli…" Buck pulls Tommy's chin in with his fingers and shuts him up with a searing kiss, just like their first. Tommy wraps his arms around Buck's waist to minimize their distance. They move naturally like they were made for each other.

Brad looks on and thinks to himself, "that's it. We need a queer storyline."

[savvytravelers]

Packing Tips For Europe

Mastering Your European Adventure: The Ultimate Packing Guide

Prepare for your European adventure with confidence and style. Whether you're exploring enchanting Christmas markets or soaking up the sun along picturesque riverbanks, our Europe River Cruises Packing Guide has you covered. From cozy winter essentials to lightweight summer attire, we've curated a comprehensive packing list to ensure you're ready for any season and scenario. Get ready to elevate your travel experience and embark on a journey filled with unforgettable moments and unparalleled beauty.

Fall

Embrace the Autumn Palette: Pack a versatile wardrobe of five tops, three pants, and a chic dress in neutral hues.

Layer Like a Pro: Invest in scarves and lightweight jackets for brisk mornings and cozy evenings.

Harvest Season Essentials: Don't forget a waterproof windbreaker and a wine bottle protector for vineyard tours.

Winter

Cozy Up in Style: Double up on fleece-lined tights, weatherproof socks, and fashionable boots.

Combat Dry Skin: Keep skin hydrated with SPF moisturizers and indulge in our complimentary hot beverage station.

Festive Accessories: Bundle up with touchscreen gloves, cashmere scarves, and hats for Christmas market explorations.

Spring

Floral Fantasy: Pack a foldable daypack for tulip-filled excursions and vibrant outdoor adventures.

Versatile Attire: Transition seamlessly from sunrise stretching classes to hiking expeditions with functional workout gear.

Stylish Layers: Enhance your look with wraps and shawls while staying comfortable on cooler days.

Summer

Beat the Heat: Stay cool with moisture-wicking fabrics, sunglasses, and mini sunscreen bottles for on-the-go protection.

Poolside Perfection: Don't forget your swimsuit for relaxing dips in the sun-deck pool and plush robes for post-swim lounging.

Rainy Day Ready: Prepare for unexpected showers with a lightweight hooded rain jacket that won't cramp your style.

All-Season Round Travel Essentials

Power Up: Equip yourself with a 2-prong European Travel Plug Adapter for seamless connectivity.

Carry-On Must-Haves: Pack essentials like outfits, medication, and travel documents in a compact carry-on bag for peace of mind.

Comfort is Key: Slip into compression socks and wrap yourself in a shawl for long flights to Europe.

Packing Pro Tip: Follow the lead of seasoned travelers like Joanne Weir and opt for a hard-side carry-on with expandable storage.

With our detailed packing guide in hand, you're poised to conquer Europe in style. From the vibrant colors of fall to the festive cheer of winter, the blooming beauty of spring, and the sun-soaked days of summer, savvy travelers can navigate every season with confidence and flair. So, pack your bags and embark on the European adventure of a lifetime!

[kas-e]

Clearing skies on the shelf.

[otaku-tactician]

I found this line in the Asmodeus teaser really interesting. There are various fictional works of Asmodeus that display him having a rampant interest in the humans of this world and interacting with them, such as "The Devil on Two Sticks" in which he takes on an apprentice in Europe, and knows all the gossip about everyone in the local area.

I wonder if it's a nod to those kinds of concepts, or maybe other lore from apocryphal works instead?

There's also a novel named "Asmodeus in New York" and "Asmodeus/ The Devil in London"; so holy moly I assume WHB Asmodeus travels a lot.

As it says he can travel through space better than anybody else, it can be assumed he has a high affinity for it- and this next source explains a bit more about his travel. The next one is a more apocryphal, lore-adjacent text about Asmodeus.

In Legends of the Jews, Volume 4; there is also some chapters on Asmodeus- chiefly regarding his relationship with Solomon and daily life.

In one part, it quotes that Asmodeus travels between Heaven to "take part in the discussions in the heavenly academy" then descends to Earth "to be present, though invisible" to partake in "debates in the earthly houses of learning"; so this lore emphasises how visiting Earth is a very frequent pastime in which he can be assumed to possess a great interest in human modes of thought, arts, sciences and their various opinions on various scholarly topics.

(As for his counsel in heaven, though his origins vary wildly by source, some say he is born of the union between angel and human, so that could be why he could access it- some sources also see him as a fallen angel. Others say he was made as one with the Younger Lilith as a demon. Frankly, I have no idea what to believe XDD)

The source also discusses how he "judged person and things according to their real character" and I do wonder if this can be seen in how he has comments for all the demons (even if it's also as an excuse to bang them in private). It felt as if he's working gears in his head, trying to find out more about them and how they work.

He also finds out about Phenomenon's interests before the banging incident, so I wonder if WHB Asmodeus may also display a keen interest in humans on earth in a similar vein to this- in which he can see everyone for who they are and learns very quickly about them(?) It's a possibility.

Okay with how he seems to read the mc so quickly, it's a very high possibility...

[tarot-archives]

Modern AU! Laios Headcanons

He lives somewhere in Northern Europe. Laios grew up in a close knit community that’s far from the city.

He finds the people and the place to be dull since not much happens in his home. He has frequent nature walks and it started his interest in biodiversity at a young age.

His mom bought him a a travel book since he liked traveling too much as a child. His top places include those with amazing fauna and exotic food.

His top activities include: snorkeling in the Philippines, birdwatching in the Amazon, and an endless amount of food trips.

at 18, he was conscripted to the military since it was mandatory for his country. He hated every second of it and was itching to get out.

After the military, he took a break year and did various part time jobs anywhere that isn’t his village.

He went to college again at 20. He chose something with animals so general Biology. He regrets not choosing Marine Biology because of how cool the experiences are.

His clubs include culture clubs (because he likes hearing about other cultures) and photography club (his new acquired hobby).

He eventually shifted to Marine Biology and graduated BS in Marine Biology.

His main reason for shifting is venturing into the deeper waters of the ocean. He finds the fishes there to be amazing! (despite looking scary).

During his work leave, Laios will complete the to do list he had as a child. He wants to see more birds, more mammals, more creatures (but has developed an interest in eating exotic things!)

He wants to take up Wildlife Biology but he needs a masters degree so maybe after a few years.

Since joining the photography club, he takes really good pictures now. He sends them to Falin—who’s also in her own adventure around the world.

He hates octopus after trying to eat a live one and almost choked to death, landing him to the hospital. He has disinterest for cephalopods now.

AN: I wanted to try something new with laios and it’s him with marine biology. It’s just me but my school’s marine biology is really cool. they get to answer their exam, i scuba gear, while under the sea. i think laios would want that too. Also, i think marine biology fits him because he wants to explore the unexplored, humanly terrifying creatures of the deep.

[yarpharp]

Yeah so I'm like nine years late to the Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt train, but I gotta get off my chest some shit about this game while I'm just beginning to play it.

I never knew that GERALT HAD TO PUT UP WITH EXCHANGE RATES BETWEEN KINGDOMS. I never thought the game would think that hard about worldbuilding, but Holy Shite I had to go to an Actual Dwarf-run bank in a fucking city to get my money exchanged. Why did nobody tell me this? This is a fucking fascinating mechanic. I love this.

Another thing: I have read the books and watched some of the Netflix show. I am aware Witchers are treated like absolute shite. But oh my god the amount of yelled out slurs and insults I get pelted with going through towns and cities and NILFGAARDIAN CAMPS is crazy. Geralt is getting verbally abused by not just Northerners, but bitched out in LATIN by NILFGAARDIANS! It's fucking jarring and realistic and wow this is not the immersion I was expecting.

Durability really tries to fuck with you in this game too. I've played plenty of MMOs with durability counters on weapons and armor, but that shit never had any severe consequences. In this game? I have never panicked so hard as when my steel sword threatened to break on me in the middle of a fucking fight. I've reached this strange place of absent paranoia where I regularly check my gear after every big fight. Is this what mercenaries felt like in Ye Olde Europe when checking their gear? But this shit is low-key stressful.

Also... Roach. I love my horse. I love em so much. I now understand Geralt's deep attachment to his horse. Getting around is a fucking nightmare without a horse. Fuck fast travel, my homies worship the sweet brown horse that sometimes glitches violently when you whistle for her.

[roses-for-rosalyn]

what if abby's father and the reader's father were friends and the like to hangout and play tennis a lot ; one day jerry anderson tries to convince his daughter to play a game with him, his friend and his daughter (reader) who has just returned home after two years of travelling ;

both girls accept their father's invitation! then the big day arrives and abby finds herself in front of reader in her pretty tennis set (and maybe something could happen in the locker room, after a heated match 👀)

I'm baaaack!

Sorry this took me so incredibly long it's been a weird few weeks. I hope I did your idea justice, she's a long one.

word count: 3.3k

content warnings: enemies to lovers, mean, competitive Abby, thigh riding, fem! reader, oral (r! receiving), fingering (r! receiving), overstimulation, dirty talk, modern au where Abby's dad isn't dead obvi, no use of y/n

--------------------------------------------------------

You were sitting at your kitchen counter sipping on a glass of ice water and gazing out the window, watching the summer breeze rattle the trees. It had been a few weeks since you’d gotten back from Europe, but ice still felt like a luxury. Europe was so beautiful and you wouldn’t trade it for anything, but after a few years you started to yearn for air conditioning, cold water and disgusting greasy fried food. Your first bite of a McChicken back in the states was orgasmic. 

You also missed your family, your dad would call you every other day and talk about his day in incredible detail. He joined a country club and got into tennis while you were gone, he even made a few friends. You were especially happy about that because you were worried about him getting lonely while you were gone. You didn’t want him rotting in an empty house while you went out and traveled the world. Even though your dad’s days were mundane and repetitive you just liked listening to him talk. His voice was the only thing that could dull the feeling of homesickness. 

The front door opening pulls you out of your thoughts. Your dad walks in clearly having just got back from the country club, he was dressed head to toe in tennis gear including a visor. You can’t help but giggle at how stupid and preppy he looks. You didn’t exactly grow up going to country clubs, and dressing in brand name clothes. Luckily your dad had gotten a new job so he could splurge on himself. It made you happy to watch him treat himself for the first time in his life. 

“What? Why are you laughing at me?” He looks up and down checking his clothes for stains or any wardrobe malfunctions. 

“Nothing, you just look a little funny dressed in your tennis uniform. Not exactly used to you in country club attire.” You smile as he acts mock offended. 

“I think it suits me, thank you very much.” He dramatically marches over to the fridge to fill up his water bottle. He’s really not gonna let go of this.

“You’re right, you were born to wear exclusively Vineyard Vines and sip wine on the balcony of your third beach house.” You say with a smirk. 

“Sounds pretty nice to me.” He smiles and leans on the counter across from you. 

He hesitates before saying “I’ve been meaning to invite you to play with me and Jerry, I think you’d have fun, it’ll be like the good old days on your high school tennis team. You’d probably deeply humble both of us.” Jerry was your dad’s best friend right now, one of the first people that welcomed him into the country club. 

“Dad, I haven’t played tennis in three years I don’t kn-” 

“Jerry said he’d bring his daughter too. She also used to play a lot of sports in high school. We could do father daughter teams or daughters vs fathers. It’ll be fun.” He sounds so excited, you would feel way too guilty turning him down at this point. 

“Ok, ok. Have you met his daughter? Is she like.. Nice?” You didn’t want to have to fake getting along with her for your dad’s sake, if you were being honest you would probably end up doing that anyway. Your dad wasn’t exactly good at finding you friends. 

“Yes, she’s incredibly nice, and respectful. She’s a few years older than you, about 25 I think, and she works for a construction company.” He pauses trying to recollect the little information he knows about his friend’s daughter. “She’s so strong I’m pretty sure she could pick me up bridal style.” Your dad laughs at his own joke, but now you are a little nervous. It’s starting to sink in that your dad essentially set up a playdate for you with an incredibly buff woman. You just hope you don’t end up noticeably ogling at her, maybe you’ll get lucky and she’ll be incredibly mean.   

You woke up bright and early the next morning, your dad bribed you with a fancy breakfast before the match. The food was delicious, but you couldn’t stop your nervous movements, constantly tapping your fingers or feet. Your dad noticed and reassured you there was no reason to be nervous, and that there’s no pressure. To be honest your nerves weren’t completely because you were out of practice. Meeting new people always made you anxious, especially when it was arranged like this. There was an unspoken expectation for everyone to get along and enjoy themselves and you liked to keep your expectations low. 

Before you knew it you and your dad were walking to the tennis courts. Your dad noticed you were starting to get all up in your head.

“Hey, loosen up kiddo this will be fun, if it’s not you let me know and we can leave. I’ll just tell them I’m not feeling well and we can get ice cream. Jerry will understand.” He messes with your hair a bit and you feel mildly relieved. 

Once you get to the tennis court all of the relief you felt drained from your body, immediately replaced with pure anxiety. As you walk onto the smooth green court you see a middle aged brunette man, no doubt that was Jerry, and a tall strong blonde standing next to him. She towered over him, every muscle chiseled to perfection by what must have been some higher power. As you got closer you could see her biceps straining against her blue t-shirt, her thighs were barely visible, but from what you could see they were just as muscular as her arms. You were beginning to ogle when you’re snapped out of it from the sound of your dad greeting Jerry. Your dad shakes hands with Jerry and Abby and you begin to do the same. Abby’s blue eyes pierced right through you, a neutral expression adorning her face. She was incredibly intimidating considering she could clearly snap you in two. You shake Jerry’s hand “I’ve heard so much about you, hope you still remember your stuff from high school. Your dad and I have gotten pretty good.” 

You smile and reply “It’s been a while, but I’m sure I’ll warm up in no time!” You liked to stay humble, but honestly you were pretty good at tennis. You had won a lot of games and you were one of the best on the team. You didn’t talk about it much though because you were self aware enough to know literally no one cares about tennis. You were also as a result extremely competitive so you were hoping you would be able to tone it down in order to not scare your dad’s friend away. 

You move to shake Abby’s hand “I’m Abby, nice to finally meet you.” From her tone you would have assumed she thought it was indeed not very nice to meet you. But you nod and smile as her calloused hand engulfs yours. You can’t help but notice how warm her skin is to the touch and how large her hands are. 

She was incredibly attractive. 

“Alrighty you guys ready for an ass whoopin?” Jerry jests. 

“You bet.” Your dad replies. 

You and your dad make your way to the other side of the net and get into your ready positions. Abby serves the ball first and her swing was strong, but it was no match for your speed. You quickly learned the harder Abby hit the ball the louder she would grunt, so naturally you attempted to rile her up further. You would smirk arrogantly at her every time you and your dad gained a point, and take an extra long time getting ready to serve on the rare occasion she and Jerry would score a point. You and your dad rack up points quickly and the blonde was growing visibly frustrated. She was starting to hit the ball even harder, her jaw was clenched and her expression was so serious. It was adorable. 

Eventually Jerry calls for a break and sits on one of the benches with you dad, leaving you to sit with Abby. Alone. 

You sit down next to her on the wooden bench and start sipping from your water bottle. She does the same and you sit in silence for a bit. You notice the sweat on her brow and how her shirt is starting to stick to her skin. You can almost make out her abdominal muscles through the thin blue fabric. 

“I’m not usually this bad at sports, not used to losing.” Abby says, looking straight ahead. You can’t help but smile at her discontent, she seems just as competitive as you.

“I’m sure your strong muscles get you pretty far in most sports, but apparently tennis is not one of them, especially when you're up against an expert like me.” You say trying to joke around to lighten her mood.

“I wouldn’t classify a varsity tennis player as an expert, but okay.” She says with a smug look, still not facing you. She definitely did not understand your humor. 

“Clearly enough of an expert to beat you.” You shoot back. Abby grows silent and continues to sip her water. 

You sit in silence while your dad chats with Jerry, giving up on trying to make conversation with Abby. Eventually Jerry and your father stand up ready to finish the game. You and your dad beat them miserably. The game only ended because the sun started to go down, the country club quickly emptying out for the day. 

Your dad and Jerry suggest you all get washed up in the locker rooms before leaving. They walk away from the tennis court side by side talking and laughing while you and Abby walk behind them in almost total silence. Once the group reaches the locker rooms the two dads turn to you and Abby. 

“Would it be ok if me and Jerry grab a drink together? Abby can take you home in Jerry’s car.” The absolute last thing you wanted was to be stuck in a small car with this mean blonde, but you smiled and nodded. 

“See you later kiddo.” Your dad smiles and tussles your hair before walking into the locker room. 

You walk into the locker room as well, planning to just keep your distance from Abby for as long as you could until you were stuck with her in a tiny car. You can hear her heavy footsteps follow behind you and you quickly put your bag down, grab a towel and walk towards the showers to avoid facing her. You walk into one of the stalls and turn on the shower. The warm water helps to calm you down and soothes you. You lather on the soap massaging your muscles to relieve any soreness or tension, making sure you washed all the sweat away from the match. Unfortunately you have to be quick because you don’t want to make Abby any more annoyed than she was. 

As you step out and begin to dry yourself off you realized you forgot your change of clothes. 

Fuck.

You wrap the towel around you tightly and make your way to the lockers. Abby is sitting on the bench in the middle lacing up her shoes. Thank god she was looking down. You scramble over to your bag and grab your clothes out. You turn to head back to the showers to change in peace but Abby’s voice stops you.

“You took fucking forever.” She’s not looking at you, which you have observed to be a habit of hers. 

“Didn’t want to stink up your car. Is that ok with you?” Abby scoffs, but says nothing in response. 

“Seriously what the fuck did I do to you?” You blurt out, exasperated. You’re not usually this confrontational, but you felt like you deserved an answer. “I have barely had a conversation with you and for some reason you seem to have a problem with me or something.” 

Abby stands up angrily to face you and you had almost forgotten you were wearing a towel until she looked at you up and down with wide eyes. “You weren’t even gonna get dressed before asking me that question?” She sounds genuinely pissed off. Was everything you did an inconvenience? 

“Doesn’t matter, just answer it.” You look her straight in the eyes, challenging her. 

“Fine. You really wanna know?” You nod “I barely had a conversation with you and I could tell you were a brat.” As she’s talking she starts walking towards you, you didn’t even realize you were backing away until you felt the cool metal lockers against your skin. “You have an attitude problem, you know that? You don’t know when to shut the fuck up” She’s close, too close, she’s looking directly down at you daring you to respond. 

“Are you fucking kidding me? You were the one who started being rude to me.” You refuse to break eye contact with her, trying to intimidate her from your height was ineffective, she wasn’t backing down. “What are you gonna do?” You ask boldly, tilting your head inviting her to answer. “Teach me a lesson? We both know you’re not gonna do anything, so just let me get dressed so I can get home and never see you again.” She doesn’t respond, the only sound was you and Abby’s synchronized breaths as she stared at you with a fire in her eyes. Her stare somehow made you feel more naked than you already were, making you overly aware of the fact that you were wearing a towel that was starting to slip down. 

“You have no idea what you’re asking for sweetheart.” She says almost breathlessly. The anger in her eyes quickly turns into a hunger when she looks down at your towel slowly slipping off your body. You’re holding on to the towel for dear life. 

“Fuck.” Abby says breathlessly before doing the absolute last thing you could have expected. She kisses you. Hard. 

You let out a surprised squeak and quickly back away, both of your chests heaving. You look in her eyes and see a desperation and hunger that’s almost scary, but for some reason you kiss her back. Abby melts into you and threads her fingers into your hair. You place your hands gently against her chest as she pushes you further against the lockers with her strong body. Her hands slowly travel down to the towel barely maintaining your dignity. She gently pries your hands from the soft material and rips it off throwing it across the room, keeping her lips on yours the entire time. You barely notice the cool air against your bare skin, she is so close to you you can feel her body heat radiate through her clothing. 

Abby uses her foot to move yours outward, spreading your legs enough for her to slot her thigh between them. You moan into her mouth the moment her strong thigh makes contact with your bare cunt. You start slowly writhing against her, trying to relive the ache that was growing in your center. Abby breaks away and looks down at you desperately grinding on her thigh. “You’re already so wet for me sweetheart. Barely had to do anything.” She smiles smugly as she watches you become a moaning mess, her thigh creating a perfect pressure against your clit. 

Abby starts kissing you down your neck, occasionally sucking on the sensitive skin, the feeling of her rough tongue causing you to whimper. She begins circling her fingers around your nipples, teasing them, before pinching them and rolling them between her fingers. You begin to move faster against her thigh and the pleasure in your belly begins to build. Your moaning starts to become louder as you begin to reach your high. Abby notices and moves her thigh further against you, putting even more pressure on your sensitive bud. “You close baby?” You nod and whine, desperate for any kind of release. You start moving faster against Abby’s thigh and your pleasure quickly hits its peak. It comes crashing against you in overwhelming waves, forcing loud moans from your lips. Abby eventually puts her leg down and backs away slightly, before kneeling in front of you. Before you can ask any questions she grabs one of your legs, hooks it around her shoulder and licks a stripe up your soaking cunt. You hiss through your teeth, sensitive from your first orgasm. She begins teasing your clit with her tongue and you have to thread your fingers into her hair for something to hold on to. 

You barely manage to whimper out, “Abs-fuck- I-I’m too sen-senitive.” 

She stops for a second and looks up at you. The sight of her kneeling between your legs is nearly enough to have you coming again. “You can take it baby, gonna make you come until you can’t give me that attitude anymore.” And with that she starts lapping at your cunt once again. She sucks your clit into her mouth, her tongue circling your sensitive bud. You let out a surprised whine, your chest heaving from the intense sensation. Abby’s hands grab hold of your hips, bring you closer to her mouth. 

You can feel another orgasm building as Abby rubs her thumbs in circles against your skin. You begin uncontrollably writhing against her tongue, but Abby quickly uses her grip on your hips to pin you firmly against the lockers forcing you to remain still. The action caused your pleasure to bubble over. “Abby-”, you whine out “-ffuck-fuck.” 

She keeps assaulting your clit through your orgasm, not slowing down. As you begin to come down, you become sensitive again and try to wriggle away from her. She pins your hips against the lockers and looks up at you with a stern look in her eyes. She wasn’t going to stop until you couldn’t even hold yourself up. 

She shoves two fingers inside of you causing you to gasp at the sudden intrusion. Her digits slid in easily, your arousal now dripping down your thighs. She curls her fingers forward causing you to have to bite your lip to keep from screaming. 

“Don’t you fucking dare bite your lip I want everyone to be able to hear you screaming for me sweetheart.” You clench around her thick fingers at her words and Abby takes that as a sign to keep talking. “You’re taking me so well princess. Think I can add another finger?” You nod eagerly at her in response. “Use your words baby.”

“Y-yes pl-please yes.” With your pathetic reply she adds another finger, filling you to the brim. She fucks you at a steady pace occasionally looking up at you to watch your face scrunch up in pleasure. She begins sucking hard on your clit causing you to let out a pornographic moan. She speeds up her fingers, hitting your g-spot with each thrust. Little moans and whimpers were escaping your lips every time her fingers hit that spongy spot. Your walls began clenching around Abby’s fingers and she knew you were close. Your orgasm hit you quickly and caught you by surprise, your whole body feeling the most intense pleasure you’ve ever felt. You’re not even sure what noises you were making or what you were saying, the pleasure was so blinding all you could do was buck your hips into Abby’s mouth. You were being held up exclusively by Abby’s grip on your hips. She stands up and quickly scoops you up bridal style to sit you down on the bench. She helps you get dressed and you could barely protest, she reduced you to jello. Abby stands up and offers her hand to help you up. You oblige and as you stand up she says “Need you to teach me your tennis skills sometime.” Weirdly she’s smiling. 

You can’t help but smirk, “Yeah? Well it’s gonna cost you and I don’t take sexual favors as payment.” 

[shefightslikeagirl]

Stages Through the Ages - Part II

An Asylum History post by @shefightslikeagirl

Go back...

2008: The Asylum Grows

The Plague Tour kicked off in Spring of 2008. The stage design didn't change much, but it did evolve. More props, new costumes, and new set dressings started to appear. The concerts were drawing more people and, notably, two concerts were professionally filmed for a never-to-be-released DVD.

Two new pieces of scenic debuted this tour, the most notable of the two being an "Asylum Clock." It was a handmade clock that hung centerstage, equipped with black-and-white drapery and forever pointing at 4 o'clock. Depending on the venue, it was either flown (hung from the catwalks/lighting rafters) or hung up on the back wall. Occasionally, if there truly wasn't any room, it would end up on floor.

Nachtelben, 2008

Bristol, 2008

The second piece of scenic was a familiar one: a second shadowscreen! This was the only tour where there were two screens on stage, both of them adorned with a crown of gears and clocks. You can see two screens and a flown clock in the video below, from the La Locomotive show in Paris.

The "full" stage set up from The Plague Tour was, by far, the most complicated stage EA ever had. A full setup consisted of two shadowscreens, a flown clock, the keyboard drapery and props, a props table with chairs, fabric all over the stage, and a space for Joo Hee and her cello. This was probably best shown at the (filmed) Islington concert.

Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of great recordings or photos of the full setup. However, there are some great shots of the stage details--including the shadowscreen topper--from EA's book readings at Wave Gotik Treffen.

WGT, 2008

2008: Keep Calm and Carry On

The Gate Tour was next. Now, if you were in the fandom at the time, you might remember some of the drama that surrounded this tour: Vecona leaving, EA's relationship with Trisol imploding, Joo Hee dropping off the face of the earth, and so on. There was a lot of change happening in the Asylum, but the show aesthetic staged largely the same.

The first half of The Gate didn't see many changes. Some scenic was given a facelift, including the keyboard, which was redesigned with a red-and-white drape. But everything still felt the same, even with Vecona gone.

Utrecht, 2008

We went back to having only one shadowscreen, which moved centerstage instead of being off to the side. (I have a sinking suspicion that this one may be larger than on other tours, but that could just be because the photos are better...)

Utrecht, 2008

EA had a handful of dates in North America during this tour, which was her first time performing outside of Europe since 2006. Because her set was mostly small items, fabrics, and easy-to-travel props, her stage remained largely the same. It appears they didn't travel with the shadowscreen, as it was missing from the New York and Ontario dates.

2009: Gears and Glitter

In 2009, the Gate II Tour began and our first significant design change took place. The fabric shadowscreen was replaced with a new version: a gear-lined, industrial themed shadowscreen (v2). It stood centerstage and acted as the focal point for the set, with everything else set up around it.

For those of you who might not know, this was a true upgrade. EA went from a handmade, pop-up screen to professional scrim. I can only assume that it was mounted to an aluminum frame, which would have kept better tension. The gears and decorative facing to hide the frame would have been made by EA (and friends).

In addition to the new clock, some empty antique-looking frames were suspended from the rig and both new and old props were scattered about the stage. But! A new icon debuted:

Wheelie!

Amsterdam, 2009

Allegedly inspired by the wheelchair from Wicked, Wheelie became a permanent fixture in EA's concerts all the way through 2014. She would be redesigned and replaced a few times, but she always returned.

EA was still touring almost exclusively in Europe, but after she split with Trisol, all that would change...

2009-2010: Tick Tock

After a significant amount of drama surrounding two cancelled North American dates, EA announced a brand new North American tour: The Key. The stage design changed again, this time pulling back a little on the number of props and small items onstage.

Emilie and Basil prepping for tour, Twitter, 2009

The biggest change was the combination of two different set pieces: the Asylum Clock and the shadowscreen.

Introducing: The Asylum Clock.

It was v3 of the shadowscreen, thematically taking the place of the clock that had once hung over the stage. It appeared in two different forms: the full face, which you see above, and what I'll call the skeletal version, below.

Brooklyn, 2009

This is a beefy set of truss, which EA loved to climb on when it was in its skeletal form.

In addition, the keyboard was given new drapery and the stage props were "neatly" placed on some new tea tables. An antique frame or a lamp-post chandelier might get hung up if the venue allowed. Wheelie lost some of its gears and jewels, which can be seen a bit farther down in this post.

Pomona, 2009

For EA's one-off Mexico date, the set was scaled back slightly.

Mexico City, 2009

Not much changed with this design through early 2010. Between the North American leg of The Key Tour and the European leg, the keyboard drapes changed again and the skeletal version of The Asylum Clock became the go-to.

Effenaar, 2010

When EA traveled to South America during The Door Tour in 2010, the set was stripped down entirely. There were no set dressings and no decorative frame for the shadowscreen, likely as a cost-saving measure. The focus was on the costumes, whatever stunt equipment they brought, and the few props they could shove in their bags.

2011: The End of an Era

The Door Tour was the last Opheliac tour. Again, as had become the trend between tours, the stage was scaled back. Most props were cleared away and it was rare to see anything hung from the rafters. Gone were the hand-painted gears and numbers from The Asylum Clock. It's newest iteration (v4) was a simple screen-printed truss cover, with a few props hung near the top.

Los Angeles, 2011

The keyboard decorations were massively simplified. Gone were the heaps of props, replaced with some electric candles ontop of a screen-printed Asylum logo. The props for the tea tables were scaled back, though that never stopped Maggot from spitting tea on the audience. The lack of aesthetic clutter didn't take away from the show, exactly, but it did detract from the vibe.

There's more to say and a few tours to left to talk about, but I'm running out of image space.

Part 3, anyone?